Politics & Government
$1.5M in Green Acres Grants Presented for Madison Rec Center
'Haven for nature lovers, important recreation outlet' celebrated.
Madison's state legislators presented ceremonial checks totaling more than $1.5 million in Green Acres funding for the 49-acre Madison Recreation Center at a Borough Council meeting this week, and sent statements celebrating the project.
The 27th Legislative District lawmakers—Sen. Richard J. Codey, Assemblyman John F. McKeon and Assemblywoman Mila M. Jasey—helped Madison navigate bureaucratic delays to secure the funding, according to a news release.
Borough Mayor Bob Conley thanked the lawmakers for their help securing the grants.
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Two ceremonial checks—one for $1,267,503 and another for $325,000—were presented during Monday's meeting at Hartley Dodge Memorial.
The grants from the state's Green Acres program go toward funding the $13 million land purchase, which also was paid for with Morris County Open Space funds and Madison’s Open Space fund.
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The land had bee slated for an office development, officials said.
Codey called the MRC "an impressive recreational center that will greatly enhance the quality of life" for borough residents, and preserved a valuable tract of land.
"Your legislative team which represents you in Trenton will continue to fight for funding for Madison and for all the municipalities in our district," he said.
McKeon, whose legislative office is on Main Street in Madison, said the Madison Recreation Center is "a haven for nature lovers and an important recreational outlet for Madison youth."
"We were glad to help facilitate the release of the funds from the state's Department of Environment Protection (DEP) so that the Borough of Madison could successfully preserve a significant natural treasure that would otherwise have been built over into two commercial office buildings and surface parking," he said in the statement. "Instead, the 49 acres of open space includes playing fields, hiking trails, walking paths, wooded areas and community gardens, providing a haven for nature lovers and an important recreational outlet for Madison youth."
He said preservation efforts need to be a priority for the state.
Jasey said the borough saw an opportunity to benefit the community and seized it.
"I am gratified that the importance of this acquisition to Madison was recognized and that we could assist in securing the funding to make it a reality," she said. "I congratulate Madison on its initiative in seizing a unique opportunity to acquire significant open space for the benefit of the community. The public will be able to enjoy many active and passive recreational opportunities on property which would otherwise have been developed."Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
